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CHICAGO — The Trump International Hotel and Tower in downtown Chicago, a gleaming reminder of the GOP nominee in a sea of Democrats, is something of a sanctuary for Trump supporters this week as the city hosts the Democratic National Convention.
Pam Long of Pompano Beach, Florida, only found out a few days before arriving in Chicago that the city would be inundated with even more Democrats than usual.
“We almost changed our plans,” she said.
She has not seen anyone affiliated with the DNC at the Trump hotel.
“I would think that’d be a big ‘hell no,’” Ms Long said as she sipped coffee outside the hotel entrance. “If they are here, they need to come out of the closet.”
When the DNC announced in March the eight official hotels for its delegates in Chicago, the Trump hotel was not among them. The Democratic National Committee said it was not contracting with Mr. Trump’s property “because our party stands for unity, hope, and freedom — values that stand in fundamental opposition with everything the Trump name and brand represent.”
At the five-star luxury hotel, Mr. Trump’s name is visible everywhere, from the shining letters on the side of the building facing the Chicago River, to the candy and wine for sale in the rooms’ minibars. It’s probably not what your average Democratic delegate has in mind, besides the thought of contributing to the GOP nominee’s corporate coffers.
On Monday, the hotel will be the site of a campaign event as Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Trump allies, will hold a press conference to attack Vice President Kamala Harris’ “weak, failed record as vice president and dangerously liberal agenda,” the Trump campaign said.
Ms. Long has voted for Mr. Trump twice, though she does not consider herself “a big Trumper.”
“He is a great businessman and a patriot,” she said. “I don’t like our choices this year, but I cannot do the Democrat thing. If Trump doesn’t win, we’re in big trouble.”
Asked for her opinion of Ms. Harris, she replied, “I can’t comment — it’s that bad.”
She said she believes the Democratic Party chose Ms. Harris after President Biden dropped out because “they had so much [campaign] money raised, I don’t think they could do it any other way.”
Anton and Anna Mironenko chose the Trump hotel on their first visit to Chicago to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They didn’t know the Democratic convention was taking place until Ms. Mironenko noticed the “DNC” banners all over town and asked her husband what they meant.
The couple, originally from Russia and now living near Atlanta, are not U.S. citizens yet but are Trump supporters.
“He knows how to make America great again,” Mr. Mironenko said.
Asked why he chose the hotel, Mr. Mironenko replied, “If you are staying here, you must support Trump.”
Ms. Mironenko said she likes Mr. Trump because he wants to keep the U.S. out of wars, and he is the only candidate who can achieve a “friendship” with Russia.
The Trump International Hotel and Tower is the fourth-tallest building in the U.S. As the convention got underway, there was a golf cart labeled “security” parked on the sidewalk in front of the hotel entrance, but no other sign of precautions for guests.
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